Reversible welt patch pocket

ABSTRACT

In a reversible welt patch pocket according to the present invention, a pocket pouch is formed by a patch pocket and a garment main piece. The top of the patch pocket is unattached to allow access to the contents of the pouch. The garment main piece has a slit attached to a welt for allowing access to the contents of the pouch. Accordingly, the contents of the pocket pouch are accessible regardless of which side of the garment is worn as the outside.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates clothing, and more particularly, is directed to a reversible pocket having a patch pocket on one side and a welt pocket on the other side.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,296, having a common inventor herewith, describes a reversible denim jacket and pants. The pants have patch pockets on the outside left and right hip fronts and on the outside left and right hip rears. Since the pants are reversible, similar patch pockets are on the inside left and right hip fronts, and the inside left and right hip rears. The jacket has patch pockets on the outside left and right chest fronts, and the inside left and right chest fronts.

One problem with the conventional method of attaching mirror patches to the outside and inside of a garment is that the pocket is not actually reversible, but rather is an outside pocket and an inside pocket. Thus, an item placed into a pocket is difficult to access when the garment is reversed.

Another problem with the conventional method is that the layers of fabric result in bulkiness and stiffness, interfering with the fabric's draping on the body and presenting an unattractive appearance.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of constructing a patch pocket on a reversible garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, there is provided a garment with a reversible pocket, comprising a garment main piece for forming one side of a pocket pouch and having an opening for access to the pocket pouch, and a patch pocket attached to the garment main piece for forming the other side of the pocket pouch and being open at the top of the patch pocket for access to the pocket pouch.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a welt is attached to the bottom of the opening in the garment main piece.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, a protector is attached to the top of the opening in the garment main piece.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided a reversible pocket, comprising a pocket pouch formed by a patch pocket having four sides and a portion of a garment main piece opposing the patch pocket, the portion of the garment main piece being fastened to the patch pocket along three sides of the patch pocket and having an opening approximately opposite the fourth side of the patch pocket. Finishing is applied to the opening of the portion of the garment main piece.

It is not intended that the invention be summarized here in its entirety. Rather, further features, aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth in or are apparent from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams showing how to make protector 10;

FIGS. 2A-2C are diagrams showing how to make welt 20;

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams showing how to make patch pocket 30;

FIGS. 4A-4J are diagrams showing how to attach protector 10, welt 20 and patch pocket 30 to garment main piece 40 to make a reversible welt patch pocket;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the reversible welt patch pocket; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional patch pocket on a reversible garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a reversible welt patch pocket according to the present invention, a pocket pouch is formed by a patch pocket and a garment main piece. The top of the patch pocket is unattached to allow access to the contents of the pouch. The garment main piece has a slit attached to a welt for allowing access to the contents of the pouch. Accordingly, the contents of the pocket pouch are accessible regardless of which side of the garment is worn as the outside.

The bulkiness of the reversible welt patch pocket is less than the bulkiness of a conventional mirrored patch pocket.

In some embodiments, the welt may be omitted.

Construction of a reversible welt patch pocket will now be described.

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams showing how to make protector 10. Protector 10 serves to finish the top edge of a slit in the garment main piece.

FIG. 1A shows a rectangular piece of fabric having top edge 10A and bottom edge 10B.

As shown in FIG. 1B, top edge 10A and bottom edge 10B are each folded toward the “wrong” side of the fabric piece.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the fabric piece is folded along a horizontal center line so that the folded top and bottom edges face each other, to form protector 10.

FIGS. 2A-2C are diagrams showing how to make welt 20. Welt 20 couples to the bottom edge of a slit in the garment main piece.

FIG. 2A shows a rectangular piece of fabric having left edge 20A and right edge 20B.

As shown in FIG. 2B, left edge 20A and right edge 20B are each folded toward the “wrong” side of the fabric piece.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the fabric piece is folded along a horizontal center line so that the folded left and right edges face each other, to form welt 20.

In some embodiments, welt 20 is formed by folding the fabric piece along its horizontal center line, sewing the left and right edges and then turning the sewn edges to the inside.

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams showing how to make patch pocket 30.

FIG. 3A shows a rectangular piece of fabric having top edge 30A, left edge 30B, bottom edge 30C and right edge 30D.

As shown in FIG. 3B, top edge 30A is folded toward the “wrong” side of the fabric piece, and another similar fold is made to completely enclose top edge 30A. Stitching 30H securely attaches the folded edge to the main part of the rectangular piece.

As shown in FIG. 3C, left edge 30B, bottom edge 30C and right edge 30D are folded toward the “wrong” side of the fabric to form patch pocket 30. The bottom corners may be adjusted to be curved corners instead of rectangular corners by distributing the fabric in gathers on the inside. FIG. 3D shows the “right” side of patch pocket 30.

FIGS. 4A-4J are diagrams showing how to attach protector 10, welt 20 and patch pocket 30 to garment main piece 40 to make a reversible welt patch pocket. Garment main piece 40 may be the chest portion of a jacket or the hip portion of pants, or other area where a reversible patch pocket is to be provided.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4D, 4F and 4H show the front of garment main piece 40.

FIGS. 4C, 4E, 4G and 4J show the back of garment main piece 40.

FIG. 4A shows garment main piece 40. Left slit 41, right slit 42 and horizontal slit 43 are cut into garment main piece 40 to form protector anchor 40A, pocket lip 40B, left welt anchor 40C1 and right welt anchor 40C2.

FIGS. 4B and 4C shows protector 10 folded around protector anchor 40A and sewn with stitching 10S to secure the upper folded edges of protector 10 around anchor 40A. Left and right welt anchors 40C1 and 40C2 are loose on the front side of garment main piece 40.

FIGS. 4D and 4E show pocket lip 40B folded to the “wrong” side of garment main piece 40.

FIGS. 4F and 4G show welt 20 inserted behind folded pocket lip 40B but in front of protector 10, and sewn with stitching 20S to secure the sides and bottom of welt 20 to garment main piece 40.

FIGS. 4H and 4J shows patch pocket 30 placed on the back of garment main piece 40 and sewn with stitching 30S to garment main piece 40. Patch pocket 30 and the portion of garment main piece 40 that opposes patch pocket 30 form a pocket pouch accessible from either sides of the garment. Rivets 51 and 52 are placed at the upper edges of patch pocket 30 to firmly secure pocket 30 to garment main piece 40, and for decorative effect. The front of garment main piece 40 shows the underside of stitching 30S. Due to the bulk of folded edges 30B, 30C and 30D, and the outlining of stitching 30S, garment main piece 40 appears to have a faux patch pocket with welt 20 at the top of the faux patch pocket.

In this embodiment, protector 10 and welt 20 comprise finishing applied to the opening of garment main piece 40. In another embodiment, finishing comprises stitching around the edge of the opening in garment main piece 40. Other suitable finishing will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art of clothing design.

The various stitching may have different or same colored top and bottom thread.

In some embodiments, rivets 51 and 52 are omitted.

For fabric with edges that do not fray, such as leather, the edge folding may be omitted; in some embodiments, protector 10 is omitted. Alternatively, for fabric with edges that fray, the fraying may provide an ornamental effect.

Garment main piece 40 may be a front chest portion of a jacket or shirt, or a front or rear hip portion of pants, trousers or jeans, or a wall of a tote bag, or other garment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the reversible welt patch pocket. The opening between welt 20 and garment main piece 40 allows access to the pocket pouch formed by garment main piece 40 and patch pocket 30 from the front of garment main piece 40, while the opening between patch pocket 30 and garment main piece 40 allows access to the pocket pouch from the rear of garment main piece 40.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional patch pocket on a reversible garment, showing garment main piece 140, front patch pocket 150 and rear patch pocket 130. The conventional patch pocket lacks a pocket pouch accessible from the front and back sides of garment main piece 140. It will be appreciated that the conventional patch pocket is bulkier than the reversible welt patch pocket.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and the described modifications, and that various changes and further modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A garment with a reversible pocket, comprising: a garment main piece for forming one side of a pocket pouch and having an opening for access to the pocket pouch, and a patch pocket attached to the garment main piece for forming the other side of the pocket pouch and being open at the top of the patch pocket for access to the pocket pouch.
 2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a welt attached to the bottom of the opening in the garment main piece.
 3. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a protector attached to the top of the opening in the garment main piece.
 4. A reversible pocket, comprising: a pocket pouch formed by a patch pocket having four sides and a portion of a garment main piece opposing the patch pocket, the portion of the garment main piece being fastened to the patch pocket along three sides of the patch pocket and having an opening approximately opposite the fourth side of the patch pocket, and finishing applied to the opening of the portion of the garment main piece.
 5. The pocket of claim 4, further comprising a welt attached to the bottom of the opening in the garment main piece.
 6. The pocket of claim 4, further comprising a protector attached to the top of the opening in the garment main piece. 